SUMMER 08/09

Mike from Newton Iowa came to visit us for a few days. He sure enjoyed the surf. Not a lot back where he came from!

Ian and his tribe popped in for a few days. Great to have he and Rozzy and the 3 Muskateers.

LJ is normally quite clean around the face.... but with ice cream, all rules are broken!

The lovely E.R. enjoyed a break from the English winter to appreciate our summer. Great to see her once again.

Well, summer’s been spent so far mostly at our Retreat. It’s a small caravan and annexe in a caravan park at Cudmirrah, not far from Sussex Inlet. For any O/S folk, we’re talking 2.5 hours south of Sydney. We’re here for the best part of 2 months (Dec and Jan).

It’s the cricketing season too so we watch a fair bit of cricket (I'll report on Hayden's retirement shortly) as well as wander on the beach and swim in the lovely clean surf. Other critters around are roos, possums, bandicoots, colourful parrots and a regal sea eagle or two.

Christmas in Australia is a time when families congregate. We have been fortunate to have daughter Deb and Brendan and their 2 kids here, son Jeremy, our mate Ian and his family and now young Mike from Iowa. Of course not all together! We missed daughter Peta and her Jon and also brother Bill who lives in Canada.
We’ve been kicked out of Dubbo by Josh and Belinda! Actually they got married and wanted somewhere to live for a few months. So, it seemed like a good idea to let them have our house. That’s why we’re here in Cudmirrah and will wander round the countryside for a few months.

BIG PROBLEM: I’ve committed myself to do the BFB bike ride in April this year from Cairns to Melbourne…. 3,000 km (nearly 2,000 miles). I should be doing serious training. I’ll give you an update on what’s happening in this regard shortly. UPDATE: I'm going as a roadie now.
Heading to Sydney next week as a volunteer at the NSW Tennis Open at Homebush. 10-17 January. Then we thought we’d go visit some places further south eg Ulladulla, Batemans Bay, Narooma.
If anybody wants us to come visit, just give us a yell. We’ll see what we can do. (Hope Wendy doesn’t give a call from Perth eh!)

[As expected, Wendy did give us a yell!. Dunno if we can get there at this stage Sis.... will keep you posted.]

IS IT REALLY BROKEN?

This was what he fell off. Inside the house. This shot taken with Jim in October.

Might become an opening batsman with stance like this.

Now which is the broken arm????

Go Nan!

Logan Jack is the 2 year old. As you can see, he has a broken arm. Too much vacuuming I'd say. Diagnosed and cast put on FOUR DAYS AFTER THE EVENT! Although he fell off the bike, he was back riding it between falling off and having it put in a cast. Tough kid! Parents have been reported, it's OK. Apparently the cast cost more than the bike!!

4 month old is Owen.... real happy kid. Nan just loves those 2 kids.

There is no truth to the rumour that Logan has done more vacuuming than his mother. Just a rumour.

Fay and I off down south coast to sample sand, sun and a sloth-like life next week. Hopefully I'll be able to shove a few photos on while we're away. Cudmirrah here we come.

WORRIED about this BLOKE

I'm worried about Logan Jack McLaughlin! The kid is only 15 months old and already he's saying "Look at me, no hands Mum!" Well, he didn't actually say that, but just look at him! Who are his role models? I'm a fairly laidback, conservative, conventional grandfather (like my father). He can't have got that from me! Maybe his father. Maybe his mother!

Won't be long before Logan Jack is playing cricket for his country. Or will it be golf?

That's Mike Hussey batting against India in the Sydney test earlier this month. (My photo). Last photo is the photographer who captured Logan on the swing and with the cricket bat. Looks like he just captured something else eh? That's brother Bill from Canada. He's also captured my Peugeot 307!

CRICKET and TENNIS PLAYERS ONLY

Well, there's sure been a heap of talk and story and interview etc following the recent 2nd cricket test between India and Australia. Many will remember 6 Jan 2008 as the end to a shocker of a test which contained bad umpiring, possible racist comments and maybe even poor sportsmanship. Yeah, guess there was that. But there was also some other stuff. There was tight bowling and creative field placings to restrict some of the Aussies. There were great digs by Symonds, Hayden, Hussey, Ganguly and of course the little Master himself, Sachin Tendulkar. There was also some tail wagging. And, just to please Peta, some declarations! ("OK fellas, in you come!") The photo above is just one I took of Hayden on his way to 123 in the 2nd dig. Thanks for the ticket SJK.
I'm thankful I was raised by two great parents, Jack and Willie. They taught me to play the game fairly. They taught me to accept the umpire's decisions. They taught me that there is maybe more to the game than the actual winning or losing (Rudyard Kipling thought that too!) They taught me that you can enjoy the battle but respect your opponents. Sure I am somewhat saddened to see players stand their ground when they have blatantly knicked the ball to the keeper or even to the slips. I am disappointed when I see some of the blokes carrying on like a couple of pork chops (that's for Margy). But, I still love cricket! Guess I'm a cricket tragic.
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Currently I'm a volunteer at the NSW Tennis Open - the Medibank International, at Olympic Park. I'll tip Henin to win the ladies and Hewitt to win the men's singles. (I won't put money on it though.) My job is to get the drinks to the players, get the towels to the players and get balls onto the courts. If it rains I have to help dry the court. I also have to hold the brolly over the players during their game breaks to give them some shade. Good fun.

Special thanks to Rob Sheeley for the photo of .... is it Vaidisova from Czech Republic? Great shot. Thanks mate! Taken at the Medibank International a couple of days ago.

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Off to Sussex Inlet on Saturday to get a couple more swims in. Fay is down there enjoying herself.... swimming, cycling, beach walking, watching late night TV etc. Can't wait to get down there

DECEMBER

December is a month like no other. For starters it is the start of summer (although November stakes a bit of a claim here usually.) It includes the festive season, or as I like to call it the anniversary of Jesus’ birthday. It includes the start of the summer holidays, usually late Dec. It includes Fay and I heading to the beach to enjoy some sand, surf, sun and relaxation. When you are holidaying in a caravan or cabin about as big as two rooms of a house, there’s not a lot of housework to do. We read a lot, catch up with friends, watch the cricket and tennis on TV, swim, paddle, beachwalk, bushwalk, bush bash on mountain bikes etc. What a great time we have during the summer.
Our retreat is 600 km (360 miles) from our home in Dubbo. Lucky we’ve got mates Dicko and Sue and neighbours Richard and Shirley to look after our house back in Dubbo while we’re away for 6 weeks. Just remembered we left Dicko a blank cheque! Oh well!
Enroute to the beautiful South Coast, we’re spending a few days in Sydney enjoying our grandson Logan Jack who can now WALK! What a difference that makes! Especially when he walks straight into the TV (yesterday’s trick) with obvious consequences. Thanks for having us sleepover for several nights Bren and Deb. Photo above is Logan Jack and Tiger. Can you pick which one is the real Tiger?
We haven’t caught up with son Jeremy as yet, but hopefully he’ll come down to visit us at the Retreat later this month.
Plans are underway for a quick visit to Newcastle (2 hour journey) to see #2 daughter Peta and her man Jon. There is planning to be done in preparation for their wedding in February. Brother Bill from Canada is out here now (avoiding the Canadian winter) and he will come with us to visit one of his many favourite nieces.
Fay and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Billy Elliott the Musical on Friday at the Capitol Theatre. Music by Elton John. What a fabulous show! Man, what a great show. Don’t miss it if you get the chance. That's a promo picture above.
Then by Friday we’ll head for the south coast – a 2.5 hour drive. Third photo above was taken at our retreat. Just gorgeous! Want to come join us one year?
If you’d like a 1 page summary of our activities in 2007, drop me an email to keasty446@gmail.com – no charge.

RELAXING AT CUDMIRRAH

Sorry about that, but the photos don't link up with the heading. That's me all over! Fay has been complaining about that sort of behaviour now for 39 years. Meanwhile Fay and I are relaxing down the south coast of NSW at our lovely Retreat!

Logan Jack (grandson) is now over 4 months old. His great uncle Bill and great aunt Margaret (my brother and sister) gave LJ a bunny plate each. Do you remember them? I had one when I was a kid. Do you remember the picture at the bottom of your plate?

I do like the black and white of LJ on Fay's arm. That's how you get him to sleep!

Other photo is the church next door to where LJ lives. LJ's dad is the associate minister at the church there. That brings me to the question that Rodney is asking...

Just wanted to let you know about a post I've just published asking "Why do men hate church?" ( http://www.rodneyolsen.net/2007/02/why-do-men-hate-church.html)

I spoke to my regular Wednesday morning guest, Ross Clifford, on my radio programme this morning about the subject and we referred to a great article by Sydney Anglicans about the lack of men in church. I'd appreciate your input in the comments of the post and I'd be extremely grateful if you chose to link to the post.

Thanks Rodney www.rodneyolsen.net

Have a look at Rodney's blog.

No worries Rodney. Hope to be seeing you over the Easter break when we get to Perth over the other side of Australia.